Printing-stamp.



No. 784,602. PATENTED MAR. 14', 1905. L. M. TODD.

PRINTING STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1902.

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Witnesses. 3

Inventor.

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Attorney No. 784,602. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

L. M. TODD.

PRINTING STAMP. APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 11, 1902.

Witnesses- Win In ntor. Mum a mwm Attorney N0. 784,602. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. L. M. TODD.

PRINTING STAMP.

APPLICIATION FILED AUG. 11 1902.

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fa-w Attorney UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905,

PATENT OFFICE.

LIBANUS M. TODD, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO G. V. TODD AND COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A FIRM.

PRINTING-STAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,602, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed August 11,1902. Serial No. 119,216. I

To all: whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LIBANUS M. TODD, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Stamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a-full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the 9 reference-numerals marked thereon.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved printing apparatus or stamp particularly adapted for marking or embossing upon checks, drafts, and similar instruments 5 words or figures indicating a limiting amount beyond which such instrumentis notgood; and it consists in certain improvements hereinafter fully described whereby not. only is the construction of the device simplified, but the operations necessary to effect the marking of the check may be readily accomplished and the marking surfaces or forms readily changed to bring one or the other of the series contained on the printing-wheel in position for print- 5 ing, all as will be hereinafter described and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printingstamp constructed in ac- 3 cordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the operation of the embossing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1, and Fig.8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3. l- Fig. 9 is a sectional View of the ink-supplying roller. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View on the line 10 10 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference-numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

The main casing l of the machine is pref-.

erably composed of a single casting having the forward rounding portion for containing the printing-wheel and open at the bottom, said casing being supported upon a hollow base or platform, which is closed by a cover 2, re-

- movably secured in position, as will be further described. Just beneath the rounding portion of the casing is formed a slot or passage 3, preferably formed by sawing through the easing and adapted to permit the entrance of a check, draft, or other instrument, the portions of the casing beneath the slot forming a support to hold the instrument in postion to be printed upon.

Journaled in the casing is an arbor or shaft 4, upon which is mounted a printing-wheel 5, preferably secured in position by screws 6 and having upon its periphery a type-plate 7. The latter is preferably formed as a stereotype sheet on which are arranged a series of 6 lines of type forming any suitable words, such as Not over $2000 or such other amount as may be desired, said lines of printing extending across the face of the plate and adapted to extend parallel with the axis 4 of the wheel when the plate is bent around and secured to the periphery of the latter, the lines of type being equally spaced and the plate formed of such a length that the ends thereof lie in juxtaposition when the plate is bent about the wheel and may be secured thereon by suitable fastening devices, such as rivets 7 as shown particularly in Fig. 3. Arranged at one end of this WheeLpreferably on the arbor upon which it is mounted, is an indicating-disk 9, So having upon its face suitable figures or marks corresponding in position with the rows of type-forms on the wheel and also provided with an operating-handle 10, by means of which the printing-wheel may be rotated to bring any of the numbers upon the dial 9 into cooperative relation with a suitable index 11 on the main frame. The coincidence of the figures with the index indicates that the printing-form corresponding to the figures is on 9 the under side in proper printing position. This printing-wheel is freely rotatable and is centered oi yieldingly held in proper position with the printing-form directly above the cooperating platen, to be presently described,

by means of a suitable centering device, in the present instance consisting of a felt-covered roller 12, mounted on an arbor 13, extending through apertures in the sides of the casing 1 and being mounted in plungers 121 in suitable supports or guides 122 and normally pressed inward toward the center of the printing-wheel by means of the springs 123. It will be noticed that the guides are constructed in the form of cap-plates removably secured to the-casing radially of the printing-wheel by screws 124, so that the roller 12 is permitted to move freely backward and forward when engaged. by the projecting printing characters, and when the wheel 5 is at rest the roller will lie between two of the lines of type to center it. This felt-coveredroller contains ink upon its surface, and not only serves to center the printing-wheel by its movement toward the arbor 1 and between the printing-forms on the plate 7, as described, but it also serves to apply ink to the surfaces of the type during the rotation of the wheel in either direction.

Located in the base of the main frame is a movable platen 16, preferably provided in its upper surface with a rubber, leather, or other suitable yielding block 17 and secured to or formed with arms 18, journaled upon arbors 19, mounted in the frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. This platen 16 is normally in a depressed position, as shown in Fig: 2, with the pad 17 directly beneath the center of the printing-wheel, so that a check or other instrument may be introduced between the platen and printing-wheel, and the former may be moved up to press the paper into contact with the type-form, the yielding pad in the platen serving to make an impression causing the typeform to more or less emboss or indent the paper, so that as the fibers are stretched the inkmay sink into the paper and prevent ready} erasure. In the present embodiment the means for elevating the platen consists of a lever 21, formed as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4:, pivoted upon an arbor or shaft 22, secured in the sides of the main frame and having on its shorter end or ends lugs or abutments adapted when the rear end of the lever is pressed down to engage with the under side of the platen 16, or, preferably,small inclined surfaces 23 thereon, to raise said platen and bring the paper into contact with the printing-form. In the present embodiment the abutments are in the form of steel balls 24, securely mounted in sockets in the upper side of the arm, which are adapted to engage with the surfaces 23 on permitting their free rotation in the sockets,

thereby reducing the friction between the parts, or, if desired, the balls may be stationary, simply affording hard smallsurfaces between which point contact is had.

The lever 21 is connected to an operating handle or lever 26, which is pivotally attached to a bracket 27' on the casing by means of links 28, journaled at their rear ends on a pin 29 on the lever 21 and attheir forward ends provided with open slots 30, in which is engaged a pin 31 on the inwardly-extending end 32 of the handle or lever 26, and to prevent the accidental disengagement of the pin 31 from the links I provide upon one of the latter a leafspring 33, having the outer perforated end which engages the end of the pin, as shown in Fig. 5. By the arrangement of the toggle connection between the levers 21 and 26 a powerful action in the former may be had by the exertion of a slight pressure upon the latter, and to limit the movement of the parts I provide an abutment 3 1 on the interior of the casing, with which the links may engage, as will be seen in Fig. 4.

To provide means for regulating the degree to which the check or draft may be embossed, I adjust the axis of the lever 21 relatively to the printing-wheel, so that as the lever is moved closer to the wheel its action upon the platen will cause the elastic face 17 of the latter to be compressed to a greater degree into engagement with the type-rows on the printing-wheel. The means I have shown for accomplishing this adjustment consists in revolubly supporting the arbor or shaft 22 in the casing and providing the journal portions 22 arranged eccentrically thereon. At one end of the shaft is arranged a head 35, which may be provided with flattened surfaces, as shown, on which may be stamped the words Light, Medium, Heavy, and Extra heavy, or other words or characters adapted to designate the impression that may be made when the device is operated. The inner end of the head 35 may constitute one of the eccentric journal portions 22 and to lock the shaft or arbor 21 in adjusted position I provide the head with apertures or recesses 36, in which is adapted to engage a latch-pin 37, movable outwardly through the front of the casing and normally projected inwardly by a coil-spring 38, operating against a pin 39.

The platen being supported upon the arbors 19 will normally be moved away from the printing-wheel by its own weight; but in order to make this operation positive, as well as to move the lever 21 into inoperative position,

I provide a springaO, made of steel wire, having a coil or loop 11 and which is secured at one end to the lever 21 by the screw 12 and having its opposite end looped and extending over one of the supporting-arms 18 of the platen. The arrangement of the spring befrom the platen. While it is preferable to employ the lever 26 and the toggle connection with the lever 21, it is not absolutely necessary, as other mechanism could be applied directly to the latter lever; but by the arrangement of devices as shown an increase in power is obtained, and any desired amount of force its aperture e6 arranged centrally of the axis of the printing-wheel and with its edges upon either side of the platen 16 serving to prevent the check or draft either when inserted in the slot or during the printing or embossing operation from contacting with the face of the wheel or the other printing characters arranged upon either side of the row or line in the operative position.

The machine may be mounted upon a suitable base or support, and in the present instance 1 have shown a base formed of sheet material having the platform 50 and the depending edges 51. Threaded into the casing and extending through the base at or near the corners thereof are screws 52, and arranged thereon are nuts 53, which engage the lower side of the platform portion 50 of the base to secure it rigidly in position. The heads 54 on said screws form stops limiting the inward movement of the closure 2, which is preferably formed of a plate of sheet metal and may be provided with a suitable covering 55, of cloth or similar material, adapting the machine to be used on a desk without marring or injuring the polished surface thereof. The center of the platform of the base portion is removed, and to secure the 'cover or closure 2 in position I arrange thereonspring-arms chine may be supported entirely on the 010- sure, and when resting on a linished surface, such as on a desk-top, the edges of the base, while extending into proximity therewith, do not mar the surface.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawlngs.

In addition to the inking-roller 12 I also.

provide a means for supplying the ink thereto, consisting in the present instance of a roller 65, composed of felt or similar fibrous material, mounted upon a perforated tube or core 66, the ends of which are loosely journaled in supporting-arms 67. The latter are pivoted at their lower ends upon the'arbors 19, and at their opposite extremities they are provided with plungers 68, which operate through suitable apertures in the casing 1, their outer ends being normally projected outwardly beyond the surface of the casing by springs 69, operating upon the arms 67 to normally hold the supplying-roller out of engagement with the inking-roller. In practice the supplyingroller is saturated with ink, and to apply the ink to the roller 12 it is only necessary for the operator to push the plungers 68 inwardly and operate the printing-wheel to cause the inking and supplying rollers to revolve in contact with each other, as will be understood.

The plungers 68 might be connected for simultaneous operation; but it is preferable to operate them separately, for in case it is desired to apply more ink at one end of the inking-roller than at the other it maybe accomplished by pushing only one of the plungers. As a convenient means of applying the ink to the roller I have provided the hollow perforated support 66 therefor, constituting a reservoir closed at one end by a plug 71 and provided at the opposite end with a cap 70, that may be removed when it is desired to supply ink to the reservoir.

The operator desiring to cancel or mark a check places the latter in the slot 3 in the main casing, moving it up against an adjustable stop 49, held by a set-screw 50. He then operates the handle 10 of the printingwheel until the desired character on the dial is brought into coincidence with the index 11. Then he strikes a sharp blow upon the end of the lever 26 or presses upon the latter, moving the platen and check up against the form on the printing-wheel, as willbe understood. After the wheel 5 has been adjusted with the proper character approximately in line with the index 11 the inking-roller 12 will serve to center it, as before described, and during the rotation of the wheel the proper amount of ink will be applied to the printing-forms.

The printing-forms upon the wheel 5 may be removed or changed, if desired, or the whole wheel may be removed by withdrawing the arbor, first loosening the screws 6, when the heads of the latter are accessible through the bottom of the casing.

By making the main frame of a single casting, as shown, not only are the parts well protected, but simplicity of construction is insured and the whole device given a neat and substantial appearance.

1 claim as my invention- 1. In a printing-stamp, the combination with a printing-wheel, a platen and a lever for operating it, of an arbor carrying the lever adjustable relatively to the printing-wheel and means for operating the lever.

52. In apr.inting-stamp,the combination with a casing, type characters supported therein and a platen adapted to engage with the latter, of a lever cooperating with the platen and a j ournal on the casing supporting the lever, means for adjusting the journal relatively to the type characters, and operating devices for revolving the leveron the arbor.

3. In a printing-stamp,the combination with a casing, type cha racters supported therein and a platen adapted toengage with the latter, of an arbor journaled in the casing having an cecentric portion, a lever journaled on the arbor, means for adjusting'the arbor to move the lever relatively to the type characters and devices for operating the lever.

4. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing, type characters supported therein and a platen adapted to engage with the latter, of a lever cooperating with the platen and an arbor supporting the lever having eccentrically-arranged end portions journaled in the casing, means accessible from the exterior of the casing for revolving the arbor in its bearings and devices for operating the lever thereon.

5. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing, type characters supported therein and a platen, of a lever cooperating with the platen, an arbor forming a bearing for the lever and having portions journaled in the casing and arranged eccentrically to the leverbearing, and a head on the arbor having recesses therein, a locking device engaging the head and devices for operating the lever.

6. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing, type characters supported therein and a platen, of a lever having one end cooperating therewith, an operating-lever, alink connecting the ends of said levers and a stop for limiting the movement of the link in one direction.

7. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing, type characters arranged therein and a platen, of apivoted lever having the end cooperating therewith, and provided at its opposite end with a pin, an operating-lever having a pin thereon and a link connecting the two levers journaled on one of the pins and provided with the slot embracing the other pin and a retaining-plate engaging the latter to prevent its removal from the slot.

8. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing, type characters therein and a with a casing, a rotatable printing-wheel, and a pivoted platen movable relative the wheel, of a pivoted operating-lever having the end at one side of the pivot engaging the platen to move it toward the wheel, a spring arranged between the lever, at the opposite side of its pivot, and the platen whereby the operating end of the latter is retracted from the platen and the latter is moved away from the wheel, and means for operating the lever.

10. The combination with the casing, and the rotatable printing-wheel, of the movable pivoted platen having sockets in its lower side, and the balls in the sockets forming bearingsurfaces, the lever having sockets in its upper side, and the balls therein engaging the balls in the platen, and meansfor operating the lever to cause the movement of the platen toward the printing-wheel.

11. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a rotatable wheel having printing characters extending longitudinally on the face thereof, means forinking them and a support for a check or other instrument arranged below the wheel, of a stationary guard located above the support and extending over the face of the wheel at each side of the printing characters thereon, a movable platen and means for operating it through theguard into engagement with the wheel.

12. In a printing apparatus, the combination with arotatable printing-wheel having printing characters arranged in parallel rows extending longitudinally on its face and means for inking them, of a support for a check or other instrument and a stationary guard extending over the face of the wheel and adapted to expose a single row of printing characters, a movable platen located below the support and means for operating it to cause a check or other instrument to be moved through the guard into engagement with the exposed printing characters.

13. In a printing-machine, the combination with a casing, a wheel journaled therein, and a type-plate wrapped around the periphery of the wheel and secured at its ends and provided with type characters projecting therefrom, of a spring-pressed inking-roller cooperating with the type to center the wheel, and a relatively movable platen adapted to cooperate with the type-plate.

14E. Ina printingapparatus,the combination with a casing havinga slot or aperture therein, a rotatable printing-wheel journaled therein above the slot and having printing characters projecting therefrom, a movable inking-roller engaging between the characters to center the wheel in printing position, of a platen movable relative the wheel, a guard extending over the face of the wheel and above the slot and provided with an aperture through which the platen operates to engage the type characters, and means for operating the platen.

ITO

15. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing, a rotatable printing-wheel journaled in the casing, arms pivoted to the casing, and a platen mounted on the arms, of a lever pivoted to the casing having-the end cooperating with the platen to move it toward the wheel, an operating-lever pivoted on the casing, and a link connecting the two levers, a spring attached to the platen and lever between their pivotal points whereby the platen is moved away from the wheel and the operating-lever returned to the normal position.

16. In a printing apparatus,the combination with a casing having hearings in its sides, an arbor mounted therein and a printing-wheel having type characters thereon, of an inking-roller and a shaft therein, capplates forming guides and secured to the casing and springs arranged in the cap-plates and engaging the ends of the shaft to move the inkingroller into contact with the printing-wheel, a platen and means for operating it into engagement with said wheel.

17. In a printing apparatus, the combination with a casing having bearings in its sides, an arbor mounted therein and a printing-wheel having type characters thereon, of an inking-roller, a shaft therein having the ends extending through the sides of the casing and cap-plates forming guides and secured upon the exterior of the casing, plungers mounted in the guides and carrying the ends of the shaft and springs secured between the capplates and the sides of the casing engaging the plungers to yieldingly hold the inkingroller in contact with the printing-wheel, a platen and operatingdevices for moving it into engagement with said wheel.

18. The combination with a casing, open at the bottom and provided with a shoulder or projection, a base and devices for attaching the latter to the casing forming stops, of a removable closure for the base engaging said stops, and a spring-finger mounted on the closure and adapted to engage the shoulder to removably secure it in position on the base.

19. The combination with a casing, and a base therefor embodying a platform having depending edges, of adjust-able stops extending through the platform and engaging the casing, and nuts on the stops engaging the platform to secure it to the casing, a closure htting within the depending walls of the base and devices for securing the closure therein in engagement with the stops.

20. The combination with a casing and a base attached thereto embodying a platform having depending edges, of a closure fitting within the base, adjustable stops for limiting its inward movement and engaging devices between the base and closure for removably securing the latter.

21. In a printing-stamp, the combination with acasing, a printing-wheel and a platen cooperating with the latter, of an inking-roller normally in contact with the wheel, a supplying-roller normally out of contact with the inking-roller, and means for moving the supplying-rolling into engagement with the inking-roller independently of the movement of the printing-wheel.

22. In a printing-stamp, the combination with a casing, aprinting-wheel and a platen cooperating therewith, of an inking-roller for the wheel, a supplying-roller movably mounted in the casing and means accessible from the exterior of the casing for moving it into engagement with the inking-roller.

23. In a printing-stamp, the combination with a casing, printing devices and a platen cooperating therewith, of an inking-roller for said devices, a supplying-roller having an internal reservoir and means for moving the supplying-roller into engagement with the inking-roller.

24:. In a printing-stamp, the combination with a casing, printing devices, a platen cooperating therewith and an inking-roller for said devices, of a supplying-roller having a reservoir, supporting-arms for said roller arranged within the casing and means for operating the arms from the exterior of the casing.

25. In a printing-stamp, the combination with a casing, a printing-wheel, a platen 00- operating therewith and an inking-roller engaging the wheel, of arms arranged within the casing, a supplying-roller journaled-loosely therein, and means for operating either arm to move one end or the other of said roller into contact with the inking-roller.

LIBANUS TODD.

IVitnesses:

HENRY W. HALL, F. F. CI-IURcH. 

